Introduction: “Lament for a Dead Cow” by Francis Carey Slater
“Lament for a Dead Cow” by Francis Carey Slater was first published in The Cattenary: Book of South African Verse (1925) and later included in The New Centenary: Book of South African Verse (1945). The poem captures the deep bond between the Xhosa people and their cattle, reflecting the cultural and economic significance of livestock in their lives. Through evocative imagery and a mournful tone, Slater portrays the sorrow and loss felt by the community upon the death of a cherished cow. The lyrical quality, rhythmic flow, and emotional depth of the poem also underscore the connection between humans and nature, highlighting themes of dependency, respect, and grief. Slater’s use of simple yet powerful language enables readers to empathize with the profound sense of bereavement experienced by the cow’s owners.
Text: “Lament for a Dead Cow” by Francis Carey Slater
Chant by Xhosa family on the death of Wetu, their only cow
Siyalila, siyalila, inkomo yetu ifile!
Beautiful was Wetu as a blue shadow,
That nests on the grey rocks
About a sunbaked hilltop:
Her coat was black and shiny
Like an Isipingo-berry;
Her horns were as sharp as the horns of the new moon
That tosses aloft the evening star.
Her round eyes were as clear and soft
As a mountain-pool,
Where shadows dive from the high rocks.
No more will Wetu banish teasing flies
With her whistling tail.
No more will she face yapping curs
With lowered horns and bewildered eyes;
No more will her slow shadow
Comfort the sunburnt veld, and her sweet lowing
Delight the hills in the evening.
The fountain that filled our calabashes
Has been drained by a thirsty sun;
The black cloud that brought us white rain
Has vanished – the sky is empty.
Our kraal is desolate.
Our calabashes are dry:
And we weep.
Annotations: “Lament for a Dead Cow” by Francis Carey Slater
| Line | Annotation |
| Chant by Xhosa family on the death of Wetu, their only cow | Introduction to the poem’s context and subject |
| Siyalila, siyalila, inkomo yetu ifile! | Xhosa chant, translating to “We cry, we cry, our cow is dead!” |
| Beautiful was Wetu as a blue shadow, | Simile comparing Wetu’s beauty to a blue shadow |
| That nests on the grey rocks | Metaphor comparing Wetu to a nesting bird, emphasizing her peaceful nature |
| About a sunbaked hilltop: | Description of the landscape, setting the scene for Wetu’s beauty |
| Her coat was black and shiny | Physical description of Wetu, highlighting her beauty |
| Like an Isipingo-berry; | Simile comparing Wetu’s coat to a shiny berry, emphasizing its beauty |
| Her horns were as sharp as the horns of the new moon | Simile comparing Wetu’s horns to the new moon, emphasizing their sharpness |
| That tosses aloft the evening star. | Metaphor comparing Wetu’s horns to a celestial phenomenon, emphasizing their beauty |
| Her round eyes were as clear and soft | Physical description of Wetu’s eyes, emphasizing their gentle nature |
| As a mountain-pool, | Simile comparing Wetu’s eyes to a mountain pool, emphasizing their peacefulness |
| Where shadows dive from the high rocks. | Metaphor comparing Wetu’s eyes to a peaceful pool, emphasizing their depth |
| No more will Wetu banish teasing flies | Lamentation of Wetu’s passing, emphasizing her usefulness |
| With her whistling tail. | Description of Wetu’s behavior, emphasizing her playful nature |
| No more will she face yapping curs | Lamentation of Wetu’s passing, emphasizing her bravery |
| With lowered horns and bewildered eyes; | Description of Wetu’s behavior, emphasizing her confusion in the face of threats |
| No more will her slow shadow | Lamentation of Wetu’s passing, emphasizing her comforting presence |
| Comfort the sunburnt veld, and her sweet lowing | Description of Wetu’s impact on the landscape, emphasizing her nourishing presence |
| Delight the hills in the evening. | Description of Wetu’s impact on the landscape, emphasizing her joyful presence |
| The fountain that filled our calabashes | Metaphor comparing Wetu to a life-giving fountain, emphasizing her nourishing presence |
| Has been drained by a thirsty sun; | Metaphor comparing the sun to a draining force, emphasizing the impact of Wetu’s passing |
| The black cloud that brought us white rain | Metaphor comparing Wetu to a life-giving cloud, emphasizing her nourishing presence |
| Has vanished – the sky is empty. | Lamentation of Wetu’s passing, emphasizing the emptiness left by her death |
| Our kraal is desolate. | Description of the family’s situation, emphasizing their sadness and loss |
| Our calabashes are dry: | Description of the family’s situation, emphasizing their physical need for Wetu’s nourishment |
| And we weep. | Expression of the family’s grief, emphasizing their emotional pain |
Literary And Poetic Devices: “Lament for a Dead Cow” by Francis Carey Slater
| Literary Device | Example | Explanation |
| Allusion | “her horns were as sharp as the horns of the new moon” | Reference to something outside the poem (new moon) to create a comparison. |
| Anaphora | “No more will Wetu” (repeated phrases) | Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses to create emphasis. |
| Assonance | “Her coat was black and shiny” | Repetition of vowel sounds within words to create internal rhyming within phrases or sentences. |
| Consonance | “tosses aloft the evening star” | Repetition of consonant sounds within or at the end of words to create a harmonious effect. |
| Enjambment | “Beautiful was Wetu as a blue shadow, / That nests on the grey rocks” | Continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line, creating a flow of thought. |
| Hyperbole | “The fountain that filled our calabashes / Has been drained by a thirsty sun” | Exaggeration to emphasize the extent of loss and desolation. |
| Imagery | “Her round eyes were as clear and soft / As a mountain-pool” | Descriptive language that appeals to the senses, creating vivid pictures in the reader’s mind. |
| Metaphor | “The black cloud that brought us white rain” | A figure of speech that implies a comparison between two unlike things without using “like” or “as.” |
| Onomatopoeia | “whistling tail” | A word that imitates the sound it represents, enhancing the auditory effect of the description. |
| Oxymoron | “clear and soft” (describing eyes) | Combination of contradictory terms to create a paradoxical effect. |
| Personification | “the thirsty sun,” “teasing flies” | Attribution of human characteristics to non-human things to create relatability and vividness. |
| Repetition | “No more” (repeated phrase) | Reiteration of words or phrases to emphasize a point or theme. |
| Simile | “Her coat was black and shiny / Like an Isipingo-berry” | A figure of speech that compares two different things using “like” or “as.” |
| Symbolism | “The black cloud” (symbolizing loss and emptiness) | Use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities beyond their literal sense. |
| Tone | “And we weep.” | The attitude of the speaker, reflected in word choice and style, creating a mood of sorrow. |
| Apostrophe | Addressing Wetu directly, though she is dead | Direct address to an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction. |
| Irony | “teasing flies,” “yapping curs” | Situational irony in the juxtaposition of the cow’s gentle nature with the trivial annoyances. |
| Juxtaposition | “Her round eyes were as clear and soft / As a mountain-pool” | Placing two elements close together to highlight their differences or similarities. |
| Lament | The entire poem | An expression of grief or sorrow, characteristic of elegiac poetry. |
Themes: “Lament for a Dead Cow” by Francis Carey Slater
- Beauty and Appreciation: The poem is a tribute to Wetu’s beauty and the impact she had on the family. The speaker uses vivid imagery and metaphors to describe her physical appearance, such as her “black and shiny” coat (line 5) and “round eyes… as clear and soft / As a mountain-pool” (lines 9-10). The comparison of her beauty to a “blue shadow” (line 2) and her horns to the “horns of the new moon” (line 8) highlights the family’s appreciation for her unique qualities. The speaker’s use of sensory language, such as the description of her “sweet lowing” (line 17), further emphasizes the family’s fondness for Wetu.
- Loss and Mourning: The poem is a heartfelt lamentation of Wetu’s death, with the family expressing their grief and sorrow. The repetition of “No more will Wetu” (lines 13-15) drives home the finality of her passing, and the speaker’s use of words like “desolate” (line 22) and “weep” (line 24) conveys the depth of their emotional pain. The family’s sense of loss is compounded by the fact that Wetu was their “only cow” (line 1), making her death a significant blow to their daily lives. The poem’s use of rhetorical questions, such as “The fountain that filled our calabashes / Has been drained by a thirsty sun” (lines 18-19), adds to the sense of despair and hopelessness.
- Nature and Environment: The poem explores the interconnectedness of Wetu and the natural environment. The speaker describes how Wetu’s presence affected the landscape, saying she would “banish teasing flies / With her whistling tail” (lines 11-12) and “comfort the sunburnt veld” (line 16). The use of natural imagery, such as “grey rocks” (line 3), “sunbaked hilltop” (line 4), and “mountain-pool” (line 10), emphasizes the connection between Wetu and the land. The poem also highlights the impact of Wetu’s death on the environment, with the “thirsty sun” (line 18) and “empty” sky (line 20) serving as metaphors for the desolation and emptiness felt by the family.
- Desolation and Emptiness: The poem conveys the sense of desolation and emptiness felt by the family after Wetu’s passing. The speaker says “Our kraal is desolate” (line 22), and “Our calabashes are dry” (line 23), emphasizing the impact of her loss on their daily lives. The family’s grief is compounded by the loss of Wetu’s provision and comfort, leaving them feeling empty and bereft. The use of words like “drained” (line 19) and “vanished” (line 20) adds to the sense of desolation, highlighting the fact that Wetu’s death has left a void in the family’s life that cannot be filled.
Literary Theories and “Lament for a Dead Cow” by Francis Carey Slater
| Literary Theory | Reference from the Poem | Analysis |
| Ecocriticism | “Comfort the sunburnt veld, and her sweet lowing / Delight the hills in the evening.” (lines 18-19) | The poem highlights the interconnectedness of Wetu and the natural environment, emphasizing the impact of her loss on the landscape. |
| Postcolonialism | “Chant by Xhosa family on the death of Wetu, their only cow” (line 1) | The poem acknowledges the cultural heritage of the Xhosa people and their relationship with nature, challenging dominant Western perspectives. |
| Mourning and Melancholia (Psychoanalytic Theory) | “No more will Wetu… / No more will she… / No more will her slow shadow” (lines 13-15) | The poem exhibits a melancholic tone, with the family unable to let go of Wetu’s memory and struggling to come to terms with their loss. |
Critical Questions about “Lament for a Dead Cow” by Francis Carey Slater
- How does the poem use imagery to convey the significance of Wetu to the Xhosa family?
- In “Lament for a Dead Cow,” Francis Carey Slater employs vivid imagery to underscore the deep significance of Wetu to the Xhosa family. The poem describes Wetu with comparisons that elevate her to an almost ethereal status, likening her coat to the shiny Isipingo-berry and her horns to the sharp new moon that “tosses aloft the evening star.” These comparisons not only highlight Wetu’s physical beauty but also suggest her vital presence in the family’s life. The imagery of her eyes, “as clear and soft as a mountain-pool,” evokes a sense of calm and purity, emphasizing her role as a source of comfort and sustenance. The loss of Wetu is depicted through the desolate imagery of an empty sky and dry calabashes, reinforcing the profound impact of her absence on the family’s daily life and emotional well-being.
- What role does symbolism play in the poem to reflect the themes of loss and mourning?
- Symbolism in “Lament for a Dead Cow” is crucial in reflecting the themes of loss and mourning. Wetu, the cow, symbolizes not only a cherished family member but also the lifeline of the Xhosa family. Her description as “a black cloud that brought us white rain” and “the fountain that filled our calabashes” signifies her essential role in providing sustenance and nourishment. The imagery of a drained fountain and an empty sky symbolizes the void left by her death, emphasizing the extent of the family’s grief and loss. The desolate kraal and the dry calabashes further symbolize the barrenness and despair that follow Wetu’s death, capturing the depth of the family’s mourning and the critical role Wetu played in their lives.
- How does the poem express the connection between the Xhosa family and their environment through Wetu?
- The poem “Lament for a Dead Cow” expresses the connection between the Xhosa family and their environment through the figure of Wetu, the cow. Wetu’s presence is intimately tied to the natural world, with her physical attributes compared to elements of the landscape, such as her eyes to a “mountain-pool” and her coat to an “Isipingo-berry.” Her ability to banish flies with her tail and face off yapping curs highlights her active participation in the natural and domestic spheres. The description of her shadow comforting the sunburnt veld and her lowing delighting the hills further illustrates her integral role in the family’s interaction with their environment. Her death is depicted as a disruption of this harmony, with the sun draining the fountain and the sky emptying of clouds, symbolizing the severed connection between the family and the nourishing forces of their surroundings.
- What emotional tone is created by the poem, and how does it enhance the reader’s understanding of the Xhosa family’s experience?
- The emotional tone of “Lament for a Dead Cow” is one of deep sorrow and lamentation, which enhances the reader’s understanding of the Xhosa family’s experience. The repeated phrase “Siyalila, siyalila, inkomo yetu ifile!” (We are crying, we are crying, our cow has died!) sets a mournful tone from the outset, emphasizing the depth of the family’s grief. The affectionate and reverent descriptions of Wetu, such as her “beautiful” appearance and her “sweet lowing,” convey the love and admiration the family had for her. This emotional tone is further deepened by the stark imagery of desolation following her death, such as the “empty sky” and “dry calabashes.” The family’s weeping and the desolation of their kraal vividly communicate their sense of loss and the emotional vacuum left by Wetu’s absence, allowing readers to fully empathize with their mourning.
Literary Works Similar to “Lament for a Dead Cow” by Francis Carey Slater
- “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard” by Thomas Gray: This poem reflects on the lives of the rural poor and their inevitable deaths, emphasizing themes of loss, memory, and the passage of time, much like the lament for the dead cow.
- “The Cow” by Robert Louis Stevenson: This poem personifies a cow, describing her in affectionate terms and reflecting on her role in the farm and the poet’s life, similar to how Wetu is described in Slater’s poem.
- “Ode on the Death of a Favourite Cat Drowned in a Tub of Goldfishes” by Thomas Gray: Gray’s poem laments the death of a pet cat, blending humor with sorrow, and highlighting the pet’s importance, akin to the elegiac tone in “Lament for a Dead Cow.”
- “The Oxen” by Thomas Hardy: Hardy’s poem evokes nostalgia and a sense of loss for pastoral traditions and simple rural life, resonating with the themes of attachment to livestock and the rural way of life found in Slater’s work.
- “To a Mouse” by Robert Burns: This poem sympathizes with a mouse whose home has been destroyed, reflecting on human impact on nature and expressing sorrow for the suffering of a small creature, mirroring the empathy and mourning in Slater’s poem.
Suggested Readings: “Lament for a Dead Cow” by Francis Carey Slater
- Chapman, Michael, ed. The New Century of South African Poetry. Johannesburg: Ad Donker, 2002.
- Gray, Stephen. Modern South African Poetry. Cape Town: David Philip, 1984.
Representative Quotations of “Lament for a Dead Cow” by Francis Carey Slater
| Quotation | Context | Theoretical Perspective |
| “Beautiful was Wetu as a blue shadow” (line 2) | The poem begins by describing Wetu’s beauty, comparing her to a shadow on the rocks. | Ecocriticism: Highlights the connection between Wetu and the natural environment. |
| “No more will Wetu banish teasing flies / With her whistling tail” (lines 12-13) | The poem shifts to describe what Wetu will no longer be able to do, emphasizing her absence. | Mourning and Melancholia (Psychoanalytic Theory): Explores the family’s inability to let go of Wetu’s memory and their struggle with grief. |
| “Her round eyes were as clear and soft / As a mountain pool” (lines 9-10) | The poem continues to describe Wetu’s physical beauty, comparing her eyes to a mountain pool. | Postcolonialism: Challenges dominant Western perspectives by centering Xhosa cultural heritage and language. |
| “The fountain that filled our calabashes / Has been drained by a thirsty sun” (lines 19-20) | The poem reveals the cause of Wetu’s death, a severe drought that drained the family’s water source. | Ecofeminism: Highlights the connection between Wetu’s life-giving role and the natural environment, emphasizing the impact of environmental degradation. |
| “And we weep” (line 25) | The poem concludes with the family’s emotional response to Wetu’s death, emphasizing their grief and loss. | Trauma Theory: Explores the psychological impact of Wetu’s death on the family, highlighting their trauma and emotional pain. |